Compression type endless film reel



March 10, 1953 w. c. EDDY 2,631,035

COMPRESSION TYPE ENDLESS FILM REEL Filed Dec. 14, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1IN VEN TOR.

March 10, 1953 w. c. EDDY 2,631,035

COMPRESSION TYPE ENDLESS FILM REEL Filed Dec. 14, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2I INVENTOR.'- f

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 10, 1953 2,631,635

COMPRESSION TYPE ENDLESS FILM REEL William C. Eddy, Michigan City, Ind,assignor to Television Associates, Inc., Michigan City, Ind., acorporation of Illinois Application December 14, 1949, Serial No.132,896

3 Ciaims. (01. 271 -218) i My invention relates to an improved endlessfilm reel characterized by the ease with which film coils may beinserted and removed.

Endless film coils provide an advantage over 2 In the apparatus of thepresent invention the film reel is defined by separable parts, thebottom part defining a film support and the top part carrying dependingretractible film guiding other methods of handling film in that the film5 rollers. When the parts are in the mated condiis wound on the coil asfast a it is taken theretion, they define a film reel with a filmrelease from. This avoids the necessity of rewinding aperture from whichthe film is unwound and a equipment, the delay incident to therewinding, film take-up aperture through which film is and the necessityof manual operation of the drawn by rotations of the coil. The top partunit for rewinding. Moreover, in the case of carries depending rollersthat engagethe inner magnetic or mechanical recorders andreproducperiphery of the film coil to guide it while op- 'ers it ispossible to use a. Mobius loop in the endcrating. These rollers aremounted for retracting less film to define a single continuous surfaceof movement to release the inner'periphery of the length and area equalto the total of both sides coil for insertion of the coil or its removalfrom of the film. 19 the reel.

While the foregoing advantages of the endless It is therefore a generalobject of the present film coil have been long recognized, thedisadvaninvention to provide an improved endless film tages of thisarrangement have been such that it reel adapted to receive or releasethe film without has received limited commercial use.Outstandmanipulation. ing among these disadvantages has been the in- 20Another object of the present invention is to ability of availableequipment to accommodate provide a closable two part film reel carryingrechanges of film without expert manipulation or tractible film guidingrollers that may be rethe use of duplicate film guide mechanisms.tracted for insertion and removal of the film coil. This difficulty isrendered particularly acute by Still another ob ect of the presentinvention is the fact that an endless film coil, when e se to provide anendless film reel adapted to receive fo a peless entanglement requ d fiafilm coil magazine with minimum manipulacult and time consumingmanipulation to restore ti it to the original coiled condition. Myinvention further resides in providing an n y Copending patent pp t onimproved endless film reel characterized by siml32,895, filed December14, 1949, entitled Endless 3Q plicity and ruggedness of construction andease C 1 Magazine and Container, I have described of insertion andremoval of film coils to the end and claimed a convenient inexpensivecardboard that a device suitable for convenient use with endless film cot that permits storage and any one of a plurality of endless films isachieved. shipment of endless film coils in condition for The novelfeatures which I believe to be charimmediate use without chance ofuncoiling and acteristic of my invention are set forth with parwithoutthe use of a complete film gu ing structicularity in the ap endedclaims. My invention u e The pparatus of the pres invention is itself,however, both as to its organization and a structure particularlysuitable for use with the d f operation, together with further ob'iectsma defined by the fi1m Container and the and advantages thereof, maybest be understood film coil therein. 40 by reference to the followingdescription taken One difficulty associated with endless film coils inconnection t t accompanying drawings, arises out of the gripping actionof the coil on i which: the guiding ol ers which makes difiicult the rFigure l is a view in perspective showing the moval of the coil Withoutsliding one or more of reel of th present in enti n ith e, film magatheinner turns out of the coil. This cannot be Zine in place; a O y o sen efilm 0011 before use Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the reel ofcause the film tightens when .used. Moreover, Figure 1 i the openedposition Without the film even after the coil is loosened sufiicientlyto come magazine in place; off the u d rollers, it is usually too tightto Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View through the fit over the rollerseasily when replaced and i 3 .3, Figure 1, showing the part in thfurther loosening is required. In the apparatus t t or fi1m releasingposition; of the present invention, elements are provided Figure 4 i 9,view 1ike Figure 1 but showing to release the film and thereby avoid themaniputh parts i th expanded r film engaging p0- lations heretoforeequired to insert and remove 'sition; the coil. 7 a 1 5? f 5. Figure 5is a fragmentary top plan view of th apparatus in the condition shown inFigure 2 with the elements in the retracted or film releasing position;and,

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view through axis "6E, Figure 5.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown at C an endless film coilhaving an external loop L. The loop L is formed by the portion of thecoil C issuing from its inner periphery, herein designated as theleaving portion of the film, and the portion of the coil C being woundup on the outer periphery, herein designated as the take-up portion ofthe film. The issuing and take-up portions of the film are indicated atI and T, respectively, Figure 1.

The apparatus of Figure 1 forms an enclosure for the coil and supportsit so that as film is pulled from the inner periphery of the coil bytension on loop L, the coil rotates to wind up film on its outerperiphery. The film withdrawing tension is exerted by the operatingmechanism of a motion picture camera or projector or a mechanical ormagnetic recorder or reproducer (not shown) through which the loop L isthreaded when the film is in use.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the film receiving apparatus or reel issupported by a channel member I0. The bottom part of the reel, 12, isattached to this member by a plurality of screws M.

The bottom part i2 is defined by a fiat bottom plate [2a, two verticalsides lib and 52c, and a vertical rear wall i2cZ. As shown, the side1211 is cut out at lie to define a rectangular aperture to receive theissuing portion of the film I. This aperture is of sufiicient size toreceive the film when it is held in the slot ISa of the film containeri6 as is described in further detail hereafter.

The rear wall 12d of the part I2 extends somewhat above the top edges ofsides 12b and 20. The upper edge of the rear wall carries one leaf ofeach hinge 3. The hinges support the top part 18.

The partial enclosure defined by part 12 is of size to receive snuglythe film container :6. Briefly, this container is a rectilinear box ofsize to receive the film coil C and has cut out portions to receive theissuing portion of the film, I, and

the take-up portion, T. The construction of the container is describedand claimed in my copending patent application S. N. 132,895, filedDecember 14, 1949, entitled Endless Coil Megazine and Container.

The bottom of the container #6 has a series of three elongated slots(not shown). These fit over the three upstanding ribs i 21, Figure 2,formed in the bottom 12a of the part l2. These ribs are smoothlypolished to define a low friction support for the coil C to permitrelatively frictionless rotation thereof.

The other part of the reel is indicated generally at l8. It is held tothe bottom part H! by the hinges I 3 which permit relative movementrelative to part [2 to accommodate insertion of the film coil C while itis carried by the container l6. As shown, the top part I8 is defined bytwo spaced plates, 20 and 22, which define an intermediate space inwhich the operating elements, described hereafter, are located.

The upper or outer plate 22 extends downwardly along its front edge in askirt 22a. This skirt extends over the open side of the bottom member 12to define a complete closure in conjunction therewith. The bottom I12has an upturned tab I 29 with an opening |2h that receives the dimple22a of the skirt 22a to secure the top It in releasable closed position.A handle 22a" facilitates closure of the top 1'8.

The side edges 22b and the rear edge 220 of the member 22 are bent todefine a complete skirt in conjunction with the side 22a. In addition,these parts are bent over as at 22d to define a channel shaped section.The lower plate 20 is secured to the plate 2-2 by the screws 2a, Figure2, and by the leaf members 25, Figures 3 and 6, which are welded orotherwise attached to plate 29 and fit over the channel portion 22d ofthe plate 22.

The member 20 is a flat plate adapted to mate with and be received uponthe top member 22. As is described in further detail hereafter, themember 20 has openings to receive the various parts depending from theplate '22.

A film release roller 26 and a pair of film guide rollers 2-8 and 30depend from the cover I8. As seen best in the cross-sectional view ofFigure 3, rollers 28 and 3B are carried by the rockable arms 34 and 35,respectively, these arms being pivotally supported on the top plate 22by pins 34a and 36a, respectively, seen in cross-section in Figure 3.The film release roller 25 is carried by arm 32. Links 38 and 4c extendbetween arms 36 and 32, and 32 and 3d, respectively, and are pivotallyattached thereto on the sides opposite the rollers.

As seen best in Figure 6, a handle 42 is attached to arm 32. This handleprotrudes through the arcuate slot 22a in plate 22 as shown in Figure 1and forms a conveniently accessible member for operating the arms 32,3'4, and 35. Since the portion 42a of the handle fits in slot 22s withlimited clearance, the handle also acts in conjunction with the slot todefine the locus of motion of the arm 32.

The movement of the arm 36 is further defined by the shaft 26a fromwhich the roller 26 is supported. This shaft fits in the slot 280,Figures 3 and 6, with limited clearance. Since the plate 32 must alwaysmove about a locus with shaft 26a in the slot 20c and the part 42a inthe slot 22c (shown by dotted lines in Figure 3), and, in addition, asrequired to accommodate the links 38 and 40, the movement of the arm 32is confined to a predetermined locus. There is, however, substantiallost motion or slack because of the clearance in slots 20c and 22e.

In the position shown in Figure 3, the film release roller 26 and thecoil guide rollers 28 and 39 are in the retracted or compressedcondition. At this time the handle 42 is adjacent the legend unlocked ofFigure l and is consequently at the right hand end of slot 22c as seenin that figure. The roller 26 is correspondingly positioned towards thecenter of the cover l8. Moreover, in this condition the links 38 and dilwhich rook arms and 34 as required to accommodate the position of arm32, hold these arms in orientations positioning the rollers 28 and 38near the center of cover 18.

Figure 4 shows the rollers shifted to the extended film coil engagingpositions. In this condition the handle 42 is positioned as shown inFigure 1. This position of the arm 32 differs from the position ofFigure 3 primarily in that the arm is shifted to the right as seen inFigure 4 in relation to the position shown in Figure 3. In order toaccommodate this shifting motion of the arm 32, the links 38 and 40straighten relative to the arms 36 and 34 and the arms 36 and 34 rock indirections expanding the rollers 28 and 3d relative to each other asshown.

The arms 3 and 36 are biased to the expanded position relative to eachother by the springs id and 36, respectively. These springs are anchoredto the arms, respectively, and to the hooks Eda formed on the plate 29.In urging the arms 3d and 36 in direction to expand rollers 28 and 38,the springs id and d5 urge links 38 and it! to aligned positionsrelative to arms 34 and 35 and thereby urge the roller 26 to an expandedposition relative to rollers 28 and 39.

While the springs 44 and d5 urge the rollers to fully expanded positionswhen the handl ii is moved away from the unlocked position of Figure 1,they do not move the rollers when the position of Figure 3 is reachedbecause in this position the links 38 and 4d are more nearly aligned andthe couple associated with the spring forces on these links tends tocause bindin of the arm 32 in slots 22c and 260 in amount sumcient toovercome the translational forces exerted thereon.

As shown in Figure 3, the plate 20 has a pair of arcuate slots 29b toreceive the pins 28a and 30a carrying rollers 28 and 30 from the arms 34and 38. Pin Zea is seen in full view in Figure 6. The plate 20 also hasa substantially rectangular opening Zild which registers with thesimilar opening 225! in plate 22 to define an aperture through which theleaving portion of the film, I, Figure 1, passes.

When the mechanism of the present invention is used, the cover I8 isfolded back as shown in Figure 2 and the film container placed on thelower part I 2. The cover of the container It is then folded back toexpose the film. At this time the issuing portion I of the film coil Cis held in spaced relation with the inner periphery of the coil bysuitable means, such as the slot ita which holds the film snugly whenthe film is inserted therein. The handle 32 is then shifted to theposition unlocked as indicated in Figure 1 and. the top I8 closed overthe film and container. The roller 30 then passes between the issuingportion I of the film and the inner periphery of the film coil and theother rollers pass into the inner periphery of the film coil.

When the cover is thus folded over to the operating position, the handledie is shifted to the locked position shown in Figure 1. This expandsthe rollers to engage the inner periphery of the film coil and guide thefilm coil in its sub sequent movements. Thereafter the issuing portion Iof the film is withdrawn from the slot 1 8a or otherwise released fromits positioning means to place the unit in condition for use as shown inFigure 1.

In the foregoing specification and the appended claims I have used theword roller to identify the parts 25, 28, and 39. While these parts havebeen shown as rollers and preferably are rollers, it will, of course, beunderstood that film guiding posts or other non-movable members may beused and that machines so constructed are within the scope of theappended claims.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention,it will of course be understood that I intend by the appended claims tocover all variations and alternative constructions falling within thescope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In an endless film reel the improvement comprising a first partdefining a support for an endless film coil and a second part adapted tobe received on the first part, the second part comprising a platecarrying a pair of substantially parallel rocka-ble arms with dependingfilm guide members on their corresponding ends, and an intermediate armgenerally parallel with the first arms and carrying a depending filmrelease member at the end corresponding to said ends of the rockablearms, the plate having an arcuate slot and a relatively straight slot,the film release member having parts extending within the straight slotto guide the intermediate arm, a member on the intermediate arm betweenthe ends thereof and extending through said arcuate slot to define anoperating handle on the opposite side of said plate, links connectingthe free end of the intermediate arm with the free ends of the rockablearms, respectively, and spring means operable to urge the first arms toexpanded positions.

2. In an endless film reel a first part defining a support for anendless film coil and a second part adapted for mating relation with thefirst part, said second part comprising a plate carrying a pair ofsubstantially parallel rockable arms, each or" said rockable arms beingpivoted to said plate at a single point and being provided at one endthereof with a film guide member extending therefrom at right anglesthereto, a third arm mounted on said plate between said pair of arms, athird film guide member mounted on said intermediate arm at right anglesthereto, means movably securing said intermediate arm to said platecomprising a pair of slots in said plate and a pair of follower elementsmounted on said intermediate arm and received respectively within saidslots, links connecting said intermediate arm with the free ends of saidpair of arms, spring means operable to urge said pair of arms apart, andan operating handle for moving said three arms relative to one anotheragainst the force of said spring means, one of said slots beingarcuately shaped for releasably securing said arms in a position whereinsaid film guide members are separated by less than their maximumavailable separation.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the film guide members are ofunequal sizes and wherein one of said film guide members is formedgenerally in the shape of a truncated cone.

WILLIAM C. EDDY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

